Fountain pen structure



y 31, 1956 c. J. LAMY FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1953 July 31, 1956 c. J. LAMY FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1953 Inventor? C RL IYE sEF A 4': L

fi- A -11 FQUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE Carl Josef Lamy, Heidelberg, Germany Application April 29, 1953, Serial No. 351,899

Claims priority, application Germany 'May 8, 1952 9 Claims. (Cl. 120-52) The present invention relates to fountain pens, and more particularly to the arrangement of equalizing capillary channels in a fountain pen.

It is the object of the present invention to provide in a fountain pen equalizing capillary channels preventing an undesired flooding of the feed duct due to temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fountain pen structure in which the desired amount of ink is supplied to the nib'through .a feed duct regardless of the prevailing temperature and atmospheric pressure. i It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a fountain pen air ducts and ink feed ducts connected by transverse capillary conduits with equalizing channels so that an undesired surplus of ink in the feed duct is drawn into the equalizing channels.

It is a still further object to provide in a fountain pen a feeder. having plurality of equalizing capillary channels, and to supply air to the same through a transverse .air conduit communicating with a longitudinal air duct which opens to the outside air.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a deflecting plate in the longitudinal air duct means of the fountain pen.

It is still another object ofthe present invention to support the nib of a fountain pen on a feeder means having a longitudinal open ink feed ductand ,a transverse groove adjacent the forward end of the feeder means.

With these objects in view the present invention mainly consists in a fountain pen comprising, in combination, an elongated barrel front end portion formed with an axial bore and with capillary equalizing channels opening, into said bore and an elongated feeder portion located in. the bore of the barrel and being formed with a feed duct. Transversely extending capillary conduits connect the feed duct with the equalizing channel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the. present invention mainly consists in a fountain pen structurecomprising, in combination, a barrel having a threaded front end; an elongated hood threadedly connected to. thevbarrel front end, and formed with an axial bore bounded by a cylindrical inner surface having at the forward end thereof an inner shoulder, the inner surface being formed with, a plurality of capillary channels extending in longitudinal direction, elongated feeder means located in the boreand clamped between the barrel front end and the inner shoulder of the cap, the feedervmeans having a longitudinally extending outer. surface portion fluid-tightly engaging an elongated portionof the inner surface and being formed with. at least one longitudinally extending feedduct composedof a wider outer .air duct closedat the frontend thereof, andan inner capillary ink duct extending in forward direction beyond theclosed vend of the duct, the feeder means being. also formed with a longitudinally extendingair duct open. at the front endthereof for communication with:the outside air, the air duct being located diametricallyspacedfrom the feed.duct,,the feeder means appended claims.

Patented July 31, 1955 "ice having a front end portion 'formed with a peripheral transve'rsely extending capillary conduit connecting the feed duct with the air-duct and with the capillary channel, the feedermeans having a rear end portion formed with a peripheral transversely extending air'conduit connecting the air duct withthe capillary channel, and a deflecting plate located in the bore, and secured to the feeder means forwardly of the transverse capillary conduit and projecting across the open front end of the air duct so that air entering the bore" of the barrel front end portion is deflected before entering the air duct.

Preferably said capillary channels are deeper atthe rear end thereof.

The novelfeatures which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the The invention itself, however,both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following descriptionof specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, irrwhich:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through the front end portion of a fountain pen;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on line 11-11 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3.is a front View of the feeder means according to the present invention;

Fig. 4.is across sectional view on line IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the feeder means according to a: modifiedemhodiment of the present invention;

Fig. ,6 is a side viewvof. the feeder means shown in Fig. 5;

Fig..7.is a cross. sectional view on line VlIVl.l in 6;

Fig. 8-is a cross sectional view on line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is across sectional view on line IXIX in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10'is a crosssectional view on line XX in Fig.v 1.

Referring now to the drawings-and more particularly to, Fig. l, the barrel front end'portion of a fountain pen according to one. embodiment of the present invention consists of the threaded front end 1 of the barrel main portion and of a hood dwhich is threadedly connected to the barrel frontvend 1. The entire front endportion is formedwith a bore 2 .which partly extends in the barrel portion 1 and partly in the hood 6. Peeler means 3is located, in the bore 2 and provided with an annular shoulder 41;, abutting against a resilient sealing ring .5 which isclamped between the members 1 and 6. The feeder means 3 is clamped to the sealing ring 5 and the barrel front-endrl by. means of the inner shoulder 7 of the hood 6.

'The resilient sealing and compensating ring 5 assures a reliable attachment of the: feeder means 3 as well as a tight andfiush' engagement of the annular rear face 6 of the hood 6 with a corresponding shoulder at the front end of. the barrel 1 regardless of slight dimensional inaccurac ies. I

Feeder means 3 is provided with a feed duct 8. 9- which is composed of one or two ink ducts 8 which extend longitudinally from the rear end portion of feeder means 3 to adjacent the'front end thereof which supports the nib 26'. Nib 20 is inserted into an arcuate depressed portion14of the bore 2 in the hood 6, and has longitudinal side edges '20 engaging inner shoulders 21 inthe hood 6, as can be best seen from Fig. 10. The shoulders 21 prevent turning'of'the-nib 24) relative to the hood 6 and to the feeder means The feed duct-includes an air duct 9 which is wider .-than';the .capillarydnlcduct 8 and has a closed front end 2'. An thera-ir. ondu tlll. ,is. located diametrically with respect to the feed duct 8, 9, and communicates at the forward end thereof with the portion 14 of the bore 2. A peripheral air conduit 11 extending transverse to air conduit 16, as best seen in Fig. 2, connects the air conduit It) with the equalizing longitudinally extending cap illary channels 12 which radiallyv project into the hood 6 from the cylindrical surface of the bore 2. The air duct 9 is provided in a longitudinally extending surface portion 3 of the feeder means which fluid tightly engages a portion 2 of the cylindrical surface of the bore 2. This surface portion 2' is not provided with equalizing capillary channels 12.

The connection between the capillary channels 12 and the feed duct 8, 9 is established by capillary peripheral conduits 13 which are preferably located in the front end portion of feeder means 3. The equalizing channels 12 are deeper at the rear end thereof, so as to have a stronger action when the fountain pen is in writing position with the front end pointed downwardly.

Any undesirable surplus of ink which might collect in the feed duct, particularly in the air duct 9, will be drawn through the transverse peripheral capillary conduit 13 into the equalizing channels 12 which are provided with air through the transversely extending conduit 11, which communicates through air duct 10 and bore portion 14 with the outside. It should be noted that the only connection between the equalizing channels 12 and the feed duct 8, 9 is established by the capillary conduit 13. The deeper rear ends of the capillary channels 12 are connected by the air conduit 11, 11a.

According to a modified embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. to 10, a deflecting plate 15 is arranged on feed means 3a forwardly of the open end of the air duct means Ilia. The deflecting plate 15 closes a major part of the bore 2 forcing the air entering through the bore portion 14 to pass through the cut outs 16 shown in Fig. 9 in transverse direction, then rearwardly through the cut outs 17 shown in Fig. 8, and then transversely again through the air space 18 shown in Fig. 7 to enter the forward end of the air duct Mia.

The deflecting or shielding plate 15 prevents leaking or squirting of ink out of the fountain pen, and also considerably reduces the formation of condensate in the rear portion of the fountain pen. Ink leaking down in forward direction through the air duct means a is prevented from entering the bore portion 14 of hood 6 in which this embodiment of feeder means is insertable in the same way as the previously described embodiment by the shielding plate which blocks direct passage of ink, while permitting the deflected air to pass into the pen. Also, the shielding plate 15 prevents undesirable drying of ink in the capillary channels 12 in the event that the fountain pen is not used for a considerable time.

Preferably the foremost portion 3" or 3a" of the feeder means 3 or 3a respectively, which has a reduced cross section as shown in Fig. 10, is provided with a transverse groove 19 or 1%, see Figs. 3, 5 and 6 which not only improves the uniform distribution of ink over the point of the nib 20, but also facilitates drawing of ink into the fountain pen when the same is filled. Moreover, groove 19 or 19a assures a tight abutment between the nib 20 and the feeder portion 3" or 3a" since it permits a slight yielding of the point of the feeder portion 3" which is particularly advantageous if the point of the nib is slightly bent.

As in the earlier described embodiment, the connection between the capillary channels 12a and the feed duct 8a, 9a is established by capillary peripheral conduits 13a which are preferably located in the front end portion of feeder means 3a.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a fountain pen structure provided with equalizing capillary channels and a deflecting plate in an air conduit, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes 4 may be made Without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for Various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

i. In a fountain pen, in combination, an elongated barrel front end portion formed with an axial bore bounded by a cylindrical inner surface, said inner surface being formed with a plurality of capillary channels extending in longitudinal direction; and elongated feeder means located in said bore and having a longitudinally extending outer surface portion fluid-tightly engaging an elongated portion of said inner surface and being formed with at least one longitudinally extending feed duct composed of a wider outer air duct closed at the front end thereof and an inner capillary ink duct extending in forward direction beyond said closed end of said air duct, said feeder means being also formed with a wide longitudinally extending air passage open at the front end thereof for communication with the outside air, said air passage being located peripherally spaced from said feed duct, said feeder means having a portion formed with a peripheral capillary conduit means connecting said front end of said air duct with said air passage and with said capillary channel, said feeder means having a rear end portion formed with a peripheral air conduit connecting said air passage with said capillary channels.

2. In a fountain pen, in combination, an elongated barrel front end portion formed with an axial bore bounded by a cylindrical inner surface, said inner surface being formed with a plurality of capillary channels extending in longitudinal direction, said capillary channels being deeper at the rear end thereof; and elongated feeder means located in said bore and having a longitudinally extending outer surface portion fluid-tightly engaging an elongated portion of said inner surface and being formed with at least one longitudinally extending feed duct composed of a wider outer air duct closed at the front end thereof and an inner capillary ink duct extending in forward direction beyond said closed end of said air duct, said feeder means being also formed with a wide longitudinally extending air passage open at the front end thereof for communication with the outside air, said air passage being located diametrically spaced from said feed duct, said feeder means having a portion formed with peripheral capillary conduits connecting said front end of said air duct with said air passage and with said capillary channels, said feeder means having a rear end portion formed with a peripheral transversely extending air conduit connecting said air passage with said capillary channels.

3. In a fountain pen, in combination, an elongated barrel front end portion formed with an axial bore bounded by a cylindrical inner surface, said inner surface being formed with a plurality of capillary channels extending in longitudinal direction; elongated feeder means located in said bore and having a longitudinally extending outer surface portion fluid-tightly engaging an elongated portion of said inner surface and being formed with at least one longitudinally extending feed duct composed of a wider outer air duct closed at the front end thereof and an inner capillary ink duct extending in forward direction beyond said closed end of said air duct, said feeder means being also formed with a wide longitudinally extending air passage open at the front end thereof for communication with the outside air, said air passage being located diametrically spaced from said feed duct, said feeder means having a portion formed with peripheral capillary conduits connecting said front end of said air duct with said air passage and with said capillary channels, said feeder means having a rear end portion formed with a peripheral air conduit connecting said air passage with said capillary channels; and a shielding plate means located in said bore, being secured to said feeder means forwardly of said peripheral capillary conduits and projecting across said open front end of said air passage so as to prevent passage of ink squirted from said capillary channels.

4. In a fountain pen, in combination, a hollow barrel having a threaded front end; an elongated hood threadedly connected to said barrel front end, and being formed with an axial bore bounded by a cylindrical inner surface having at the forward end thereof an inner shoulder, said inner surface being formed with a plurality of capillary channels extending in longitudinal direction; elongated feeder means located in said bore and clamped between said barrel front end and said inner shoulder of said hood, said feeder means having a longitudinally extending outer surface portion fluid-tightly engaging an elongated portion of said inner surface and being formed with at least one longitudinally extending feed duct composed of a wider outer air duct closed at the front end thereof and an inner capillary ink duct extending in forward direction beyond said closed end of said air duct, said feeder means being also formed with a wide longitudinally extending air passage open at the front end thereof for communication with the outside air, said air passage being located diametrically spaced from said feed duct, said feeder means having a portion formed with peripheral capillary conduits connecting said front end of said air duct with said air passage and with said capillary channels, said feeder means having a rear end portion formed with a peripheral air conduit connecting said air passage with said capillary channels; and a shielding plate means located in said bore, being secured to said feeder means forwardly of said peripheral capillary conduits and projecting across said open front end of said air passage so as to prevent passage of ink squirted from said capillary channels.

5. A fountain pen structure as claimed in claim 4 and including a resilient sealing ring located between said barrel front end and said hood and said feeder means.

6. A fountain pen structure as claimed in claim 1 and including a nib supported on the forward end of said feeder means closing said feed duct and having a pair of longitudinal side edges; and wherein said barrel front end portion is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending shoulders in said bore engaging the side edges of said nib.

7. In a fountain pen, in combination, an elongated barrel front end portion formed with an axial bore bounded by a cylindrical inner surface, said inner surface being formed with a plurality of peripherally spaced longitudinally extending capillary channels; elongated feeder means located in said bore and having an outer surface portion fluid-tightly engaging a portion of said inner surface and being formed with at least one longitudinally extending feed duct composed of a wider outer air duct closed at the front end thereof and of an inner capillary ink duct having a forwardly located ink duct end portion extending in forward direction beyond said closed end of said air duct, said outer surface of said feeder means being also formed with a Wide longitudinally extending air passage open at the front end thereof and being located peripherally spaced from said feed duct, said feeder means being formed with a peripheral capillary conduit connecting said front end of said air duct with said air passage and with the forward ends of said capillary channels, said feeder means having a rear end portion formed with a peripheral air conduit in said outer surface thereof connecting said air passage with said capillary channels; and a nib located in said axial bore between said barrel front end portion and said feeder means forwardly of said closed end of said air duct and of said peripheral capillary conduit and closing said forwardly located ink duct end portion.

8. A fountain pen as claimed in claim 7 wherein said nib has a pair of longitudinal side edges, and wherein said barrel front end portion has a pair of longitudinally extending shoulders in said bore engaging said side edges of said nib.

9. A fountain pen as claimed in claim 7 and including a shielding plate located in said bore and being secured to said feeder means forwardly of said peripheral capillary conduit and projecting across said open front end of said air passage so as to prevent passage of ink squirted from said capillary channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,923 Hartline Mar. 26, 1929 2,129,134 Johnson Sept. 6, 1938 2,396,919 Juelss Mar. 19, 1946 2,489,983 Severy Nov. 29, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,253 Germany Nov. 8, 1941 932,339 France Nov. 24, 1947 828,966 Germany Jan. 21, 1952 

